Originally posted by Lord Lucien
I haven't read the book in five years, but going by Wookiee's words alone, Thrawn wasn't losing. His trap for the Republic fleet was going well. His defensive line of Golans was breached by the Smugglers, but that's not losing a battle, that's the battle taking an unexpected turn. Had Thrawn not been killed by Rukh, who knows how he would have handled the situation? I doubt he would have pulled a Pellaeon and ran (because Pellaeon knew that only Thrawn could turn the situation around).There's a fine, fine line between the battle taking a surprising turn, and losing.
Then the wook is wrong. I have the book in front of me. Rebel ships were breaching the line and destroying his station and were getting into his ship yards. By breaking through his line they were effectively breaking through his trap. I'm not saying he could't have won but he was in a very bad place and was facing a commander that is almost his equal (Ackbar). I really don't see how he could have got out of that one nor could Pallaeon who basically worshiped the guy. And I'll reiterate the battle was going so badly that when Thrawn died Pellaeon immedialty ordered a retreat he didn't even bother continuing.